Since 1948, CCD Law has helped injury victims in Coeur d’Alene boating accidents. Lake Coeur d’Alene is one of the most popular boating destinations in the Pacific Northwest, but there’s a number of other places where boating accidents can happen. If you are hurt in one of these accidents, our Coeur d’Alene personal injury lawyers can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
When Should You Hire a Lawyer?
When you’re in a boating accident, it’s unnerving because you not only have to deal with the actual impact, but also have to worry about drowning or other water injuries. But every accident is different, and whether or not you should hire a lawyer depends on your needs.
Basically, the more hurt you are, the more help you’ll probably need. If the accident is minor, you probably don’t need to worry about legal action. However, most boating accidents are rather serious. So, here’s how our team can help you in this situation:
- Looking into the accident and its causes
- Helping you with collecting crucial evidence and documents
- Figuring out who is responsible
- Evaluating your claim and damages accurately
- Helping you with any insurance matters
- Explaining the legal process and what you can expect
- Making things easier for you and your family
There’s no denying that a boating accident can be difficult. But understanding the process, and more importantly, having the right support, can make things much easier.
Filing an Injury Claim After a Boating Accident
Experiencing a boating accident is really scary and upsetting, but in Idaho, the law treats it like any other injury. That means there are rules in place to help you and your family if it happens.
First, we need to figure out who’s responsible for what happened. This, obviously, differs from accident to accident and depends heavily on the circumstances. But ultimately, it boils down to negligence. In a boating accident, this means:
- The responsible party failed in their duty to keep you and others safe, and this breach of duty led to the accident and your injuries.
This narrows down the possible liable parties, but it could be any or multiple of the following in a typical boating accident:
- The driver of the boat
- The owner of the boat (if not the driver)
- Rental companies that leased the boat
- The manufacturer of the boat or the boat’s parts
- Other passengers
- Property owners, if the accident happens on private land
- Local or state government, if the accident happens on public land
Once we know who’s responsible, you can start a claim for your injuries. Usually, this means starting with an insurance claim, going through that process, and then, if the insurance offer isn’t enough, you might need to go to court with a personal injury lawsuit.
No matter what you decide to do, a successful claim will allow you to recover certain “damages”, or things like:
- Paying for your medical bills, like hospital visits, medicines, surgeries, and any medical devices you might need because of the accident.
- Getting money for the pain you went through physically and mentally because of the accident.
- Reimbursing you for any money you couldn’t earn because you couldn’t work after the accident, and any money you might lose in the future because of it.
- Getting financial help for the emotional pain you’ve suffered, like if you develop PTSD.
- Getting paid for any way your life isn’t as good as it used to be because of the accident.
- If someone died in the accident, helping with the costs of their funeral, any money they would’ve earned, and other costs related to their death.
Every boating accident case is different, and what happens depends on what actually went down. The process of making a claim can be tricky, especially when multiple people or parties are involved. But our lawyers are here to help you through it all, making sure your claim is strong and you get the outcome you deserve.
What Do You Need to Do After a Boating Accident?
No matter where it happens, there’s certain steps you need to take after the accident itself to protect your safety and your potential claim. This isn’t always easy to do, particularly after a boating accident. This is due to the fact that it’s sometimes difficult to even know what happened to cause the accident. Regardless, you need to make sure to do the following:
- Get help – If you’re hurt, call for help right away. If the boat is still in the water, try to get to safety. If not, try to call for a lifeguard or someone else to try to rescue you.
- Medical care – Once you’re safe, get medical attention right away. You may have to call an ambulance, but EMTs can take care of any immediate injuries. Once stabilized, you should probably get further care at a hospital.
- Report the accident – Call and report the accident to the relevant authorities This could include the local coast guard, marine patrol, or other law enforcement agencies. Reporting the accident makes sure they look into what happened properly and keep records.
- Exchange information – Exchange contact and insurance information with anyone else involved in the accident. This includes boat owners, operators, and any witnesses.
- Document the scene – Take photos or videos of the accident scene, including any damage to boats or property, injuries, and environmental factors that may have contributed to the accident (like weather conditions or other hazards).
- Preserve evidence – Preserve any evidence related to the accident, such as damaged equipment, navigation logs, or communication records. This evidence may be crucial for insurance claims or your lawsuit.
- Follow your treatment plan – Follow up with medical providers for any ongoing treatment or rehab you need as a result of the accident. Additionally, stay informed about the progress of any claims stemming from the accident.
What Are Some Common Types of Boating Accidents?
Obviously, where a boating accident happens is going to play a big role in the claims process. Most of the time, the accident is going to be in open water, but can also happen in some rivers in the area. Regardless, the types of accidents that can happen usually revolve around the following:
- Collisions, when two boats collide with each other, or with fixed objects like docks, rocks, or buoys.
- Capsizing, when the boat overturns or flips over, potentially trapping passengers underneath or in the water.
- Groundings, when the boat runs aground, hitting the bottom of a body of water, potentially causing damage to the vessel.
- Flooding or sinking, when water enters a boat, either due to a leak, rough weather, or other factors, leading to sinking or partial flooding.
- Falls overboard, when a person falls off the boat and into the water, which can be particularly dangerous if they are not wearing a life jacket or if the boat is moving at high speeds.
- Propeller accidents, when someone is struck by the propeller of a boat, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
- Fires, when a fire breaks out or an explosion occurs on the boat, which can be caused by fuel leaks, electrical faults, or other factors.
Every accident is unique, but what’s important to remember is that you have options. And if you need further support, our boating accident lawyers will be there for you.
Contact CCD Law After a Coeur d’Alene Boating Accident
If you’ve been injured in a boating accident in Coeur d’Alene, CCD Law is here to help you. Our team of Coeur d’Alene boat accident lawyers understands the challenges you’re facing and can guide you through the legal process to help you recover. It’s important to act quickly, but we’re here to help you get the support you need. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.